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January 16th, 2010

Babywearing History: Inuit

Posted by Leah in Babywearing Around the World, Inuit | No Comments »

 The large-hooded Amauti garment, worn by Inuit women, is unique.  The parka’s traditional design is functional, allowing the child to be carried in the same garment as the parent offering protection and safety from the harsh Arctic climate, as well as beauty – and beautiful these traditional carriers are!

The design and look of an Amauti was passed on from generation to generation, with particular looks dependant on the area one was from.  Various materials were used dependant on availability and included seal skin and caribou. Measurements were by hand and custom fitted to the mother. Like the ERGObaby carrier back position, the baby Inuit was carried with their stomach to mother’s back and their knees were bent. The  Amauti was secured around the mother’s waist to prevent the child from slipping down. The weight of the child was carried across the shoulders of the garment although the weight was typically re-distributed by two more ties which form a “v” from the collar bone, with the base secured by the tie at the waist. The shoulders of the carrier were roomy enough for the mother to easily move her child forward to breastfeed when needed. This particular form of carry allowed the mother to be in constant contact with her infant, even enabling her to determine when the child needed to toilet! (although an emergency nappy of moss was kept at the bottom of the Amauti in case of emergencies!)

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Library of Congress Prints and Photographs, Photograph by Lomen Bros., 1906

 

Many of the traditional methods of Amauti production were beginning to fade into history until recently.  The  first national consultation with Inuit women in Canada on the issues of protecting their cultural property, traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights was held in 2001. It was also the culmination of several years of research and development. Please find attached the final report here with some glorious images of the produced results.

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Eastern Arctic Inuit: Nunavimiut (1890-1897)  Made from Seal fur, dog fur, sinew. Kept at McCord Museum

January 14th, 2010

Babywearing History: Ancient Egypt

Posted by Leah in Ancient Egypt, Babywearing Around the World | No Comments »

Babywearing is often said to be recorded in history as far back as the Ancient Egyptians. But where? A search of the internet will provide you with many references that state this tibit of history, but rarely is there any documentation to show that this is actually the case.  So, the Babes in Arms team decided to scour the vast virtual world to find at least one reference – and we found it at Childbirth and Children in Ancient Egypt  By Marie Parsons.

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A woman, supporting a child with her left hand, reaches for a fig, from the 25th Dynasty relief in the tomb of Montemhet on the West Bank at Luxor. (Doesn’t it look like an early Peanut Shell Sling??)

Ms Parsons also provides a reference by the scribe Ani who instructed that children repay the devotion of Egyptian mothers:

 ”Repay your mother for all her care. Give her as much bread as she needs, and carry her as she carried you, for you were a heavy burden to her. When you were finally born, she still carried you on her neck and for three years she suckled you and kept you clean.”

We would like to assume that this reference implied that mothers in Egypt often carried their babies in slings! What do you think?

Do you have any Ancient Egyptian Babywearing references or images? We would love to see them.

 

January 11th, 2010

Using Your Heart to Heart Infant Insert

Posted by Leah in Infant Insert | No Comments »

Using your new Heart to Heart insert should be comfortable for both you and your new baby. Recently we have had some enquires about how best to position baby in the insert.  This post will walk you through how to ensure that your baby has the best ride possible in your ERGObaby carrier with the help of your Heart to Heart insert.

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When using your Heart to Heart insert, your baby’s legs and feet need to be observed. With a newborn,the feet will be together. However, over time, the legs will gradually and naturally open into a spread position. As this happens you can reach in and gently place the legs into a spread position. Be sure to check that the legs and feet are not constricted in any way by the carrier.

Check often for correct positioning, the way you use the Infant Insert changes as the baby develops.

In smaller babies the feet, not the legs, will be touching in what we refer to as the frog position. As babies grow the feet will begin to spread apart as the hips open more. As this development progresses the legs and feet will assume the spread-squat position or natural sitting position:

The Natural Sitting Position is one which supports the natural rounding of a baby’s spine, supporting a forward pelvic tilt and proper development of the hip joints. In the Natural Sitting Position, the baby’s legs are bent with his knees level with his bellybutton, and spread apart at about a 45 degree angle. This position, also referred to as the Spread-Squat Position, mimics the natural position for optimal joint and spinal support; hence, the Natural Sitting Position.

Babyposition09012010The picture above shows the ideal position. It is our experience that some babies legs are not ready to be spread to that much of an angle so less than 45 degrees is fine.  The important thing is that the knees are bent, legs slightly spread so that the baby is almost straddling your belly. The knees should be spread as much as comfortable but can be fairly close. I like to reach in with my hands and adjust the position  in a way similar to the picture above: bent, slightly raised and spread. I will also make sure the pelvis is tilted forward at this time. It is important to do this periodically to avoid squished legs. Depending on the length of the legs and the development of the baby, the feet will either be straight down under your navel or off to the side either slightly resting on the waist belt or straddling your sides. Every baby is different so use your best judgement in determining how exactly to position your baby.

It is important to keep the pillow in the insert at least until your baby’s legs spread out to the side more and the feet are no longer close together. We do not recommend using the Infant Insert Heart-to-Heart in the sling position.

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If you have any further queries about how to use your Heart-to-Heart insert, please feel free to contact us here or during business hours on 1300 725 276.

January 5th, 2010

Babywearing History: Native American Style

Posted by Leah in Babywearing Around the World, Native American | No Comments »

Babywearing is as old as mankind itself. In fact, some may debate that the ancient sling, probably made from animal skin or plant fiber nets, was one of the first man-made tools! It didn’t take our ancestors long to realise that the best way to keep their babies safe, content and warm and/or cool was to carry them in made slings and carriers. This enabled our ancestral mothers the ability to continue with their work and provide their maternal bond – and work hard they did! .

Nearly every culture has adapted a form of babywearing to suit their particular need – whether it is to keep baby warm, cool; to allow mother to bend forward to work or to crouch – there was always something that worked. Over the next few weeks we will be exploring a rich array of traditional babywearing styles from around the world.

Native American  Cradle Board

The cradle board was a typical Native American style baby carrier typically made from cut flat pieces of wood or woven from flexible twigs such as willow. Moss, shredded bark, and animal fur was used for cushioning.  The cradle board allowed mothers to continue working, whilst providing their babies with safety and security. The cradleboards were attached to the mother’s back straps from the shoulder or the head. For travel, cradleboards could be hung from the horse. It was quite customary for babies to be carried in this method right up to when the baby could walk.

 

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From: Edward S Curtis’  The North American Indian

“My grandmas told me that you don’t decide when the child is going to give up the cradleboard, it’s the child that’s going to decide. They say the sooner that a child leaves or pushes away the cradleboard and doesn’t want to use it—that means they’re going to mature a lot faster.” —Maynard WhiteOwl Lavadour

“I learned to make these cradleboards by watching Mom, by helping her or helping my grandmother. Altogether I’ve made three sizes—infant, medium, and large. In my family, all the relatives that I know of kept their babies in boards. They like their boards. They want to stay in them and sleep in them.” —Agnes Goudy Lopez

“When you know of a child being born, then you prepare. You start making their clothes. We get the baby boards ready, and we have to keep to tradition. When a baby board is made, it has to be made in a day. You begin at the break of day and it has to be done before evening so the child will grow up to be a good person.” —Sophie George

(Excerpts taken from Native American Birthing Traditions, The Oregon Historical Society)